Food Lion Standard Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Cold Water Lobster Tail: $3/oz
- Fresh Chicken Tenderloins: Family Pack (price not listed)
- Raw Shrimp Peeled and Deveined Tail-Off: $16/oz bag
- Boneless Pork Loin Roast or Whole Pork Tenderloin: $1/lb
- Chop House Beef and Pork Burger: $21/28 oz pkg
- Pork Chops Center Cut Bone-In: price not listed (sale)
- Beef Chuck Roast: price not listed (sale)
- Thin Sliced Boneless Chicken Breast: Family Pack (price not listed)
- Chicken Drumsticks: $5/lb bag
- Swift Dry Rub St. Louis Style Pork Ribs: $19/oz pkg
- Oscar Mayer Sliced Bacon: $16/oz pkg
- Eckrich Smoked Sausage: $12-14 oz pkg (price not listed)
- Johnsonville Fresh Dinner Sausage: $7-9 oz pkg (price not listed)
- Smithfield Marinated Pork Loin Filet: $23/oz pkg
- Cod or Haddock Fillets: $10/oz
- Flounder Fillets: $32/oz pkg
- Food Lion Cooked Shrimp: $16/oz bag
- Luke's Lobster Cakes: $6/oz pkg

Vegetables on sale:
- Strawberries: $1/lb container
- Blueberries: $1/pint
- Mini Potatoes: $14/oz (sale)
- Mini Cucumbers: $24/oz (sale)
- Yellow or White Nectarines: sale price not listed
- Mini Watermelon: sale price not listed
- Hass Avocados or Mangos: sale price not listed
- Taste of Inspirations Tomatoes: sale price not listed
- Broccoli Crowns: sale price not listed
- Food Lion Baby Cut Carrots: $1/lb bag
- Fresh Express Salad Blends: $6-9 oz pkg (price not listed)
- Realsweet Organic Vidalia Onions: $3/lb bag
- Nature's Promise Organic Nectarines, Peaches or Plums: $2/lb bag
- Fresh Cherries: sale price not listed

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Boneless Pork Loin Roast or Whole Pork Tenderloin: $1/lb - about $2 for 4 people (2 lbs feeds 4 easily, one of the best protein deals on the flyer)
- Chicken Drumsticks: $5/lb bag - about $5 for 4 people (roughly 1 lb of drumsticks feeds 4 as a main, but a generous portion of 2 lbs runs $10, still very budget-friendly)
- Eckrich Smoked Sausage: sale pkg (price unlisted, typically $3-$4 on sale) - about $3-$4 for 4 people from one package
- Johnsonville Fresh Dinner Sausage: sale pkg (price unlisted, typically $4-$5 on sale) - about $4-$5 for 4 people from one package
- Thin Sliced Boneless Chicken Breast / Fresh Chicken Tenderloins: Family Pack (price unlisted, typically $6-$9 on sale for a family pack) - about $6-$8 for 4 people
- Beef Chuck Roast: price unlisted (sale) - chuck roast typically runs $4-$6/lb; 2 lbs for 4 people is roughly $8-$12
- Pork Chops Center Cut Bone-In: price unlisted (sale) - typically $3-$5/lb on sale; 1.5-2 lbs for 4 people is roughly $6-$10
- Chop House Beef and Pork Burger: $21/28 oz pkg - about $10-$12 for 4 people (one pkg provides roughly 4 burgers)
- Cod or Haddock Fillets: $10/oz - premium seafood, would cost $80+ for 4 people at realistic serving sizes; likely a mislabeled price, but listed as-is this is extremely expensive - skipped
- Flounder Fillets: $32/oz pkg - similar concern to cod; skipped
- Food Lion Cooked Shrimp: $16/oz bag - one 16 oz bag for 4 people as a main is borderline; roughly $16 for the bag
- Raw Shrimp Peeled and Deveined Tail-Off: $16/oz bag - same as above, roughly $16 for one bag
- Smithfield Marinated Pork Loin Filet: $23/oz pkg - one pkg is roughly $23; higher-end for a marinated convenience item
- Luke's Lobster Cakes: $6/oz pkg - specialty item, one pkg would not feed 4 as a main
- Swift Dry Rub St. Louis Style Pork Ribs: $19/oz pkg - one rack/pkg at $19; feeds 4 but is a splurge item
- Cold Water Lobster Tail: $3/oz - true luxury item; 4 tails at 5-6 oz each would run $60-$72 for 4 people

Why these meals: Pork tenderloin at $1/lb is the standout deal of the week, so it anchors Monday and provides outstanding value for a dinner that feels elevated without costing much. Chicken drumsticks at $5/lb give you a generous, crowd-pleasing portion on a second night, and smoked sausage rounds out two more easy weeknight dinners with bold flavor at very low cost per serving. The Chop House Beef and Pork Burgers earn the one premium-leaning night on Friday - they are a step up from everyday ground beef but stay well under the cost of shrimp, ribs, or seafood, and one 28 oz package gives each person a hearty burger. The lobster tails, flounder, cod, and shrimp were all left on the shelf this week because even on sale they push the nightly cost into a range that would double or triple what the other four dinners cost combined - the pork and chicken deals are genuinely too good to trade away. The Vidalia onions, broccoli, baby carrots, mini potatoes, and strawberries on sale this week fill out every plate with fresh produce without adding much to the bill at all.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Mini Potatoes and Broccoli
Description: A whole pork tenderloin is seasoned with garlic and herbs then roasted until juicy and golden, served alongside crispy mini potatoes and tender roasted broccoli crowns. This is a complete, satisfying dinner that looks impressive but comes together in under an hour with minimal hands-on work.
Sale items used: Boneless Pork Loin Roast or Whole Pork Tenderloin, Mini Potatoes, Broccoli Crowns
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: Use approximately 1.5 lbs of pork tenderloin for 4 people (about 6 oz per person), one 14 oz bag of mini potatoes halved and roasted, and 1 large broccoli crown cut into florets serving roughly 1 cup per person
Recipes:
- Herb Roasted Pork Loin and Potatoes Recipe

Tuesday
Meal: Smoked Sausage, Vidalia Onion, and Carrot Sheet Pan Dinner
Description: Eckrich smoked sausage is sliced and roasted on a sheet pan alongside sweet Vidalia onions and baby cut carrots, letting everything caramelize together in the oven for deep, savory flavor. Served with King's Hawaiian Rolls on the side, this is a hearty and satisfying meal that practically cooks itself.
Sale items used: Eckrich Smoked Sausage, Realsweet Organic Vidalia Onions, Food Lion Baby Cut Carrots, King's Hawaiian Rolls
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 packages of Eckrich smoked sausage (about 24-28 oz total) to give each person a generous 6-7 oz portion, 1 lb of carrots, half of the 3 lb onion bag sliced, and 3 rolls per person

Wednesday
Meal: Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Avocado and Fresh Salad
Description: Chicken drumsticks are coated in seasonings and baked at high heat until the skin is deeply golden and crispy, served alongside a fresh salad of mixed greens, sliced avocado, and cucumber with Ken's dressing on the side. This is a fun, hands-on dinner the whole table enjoys.
Sale items used: Chicken Drumsticks, Hass Avocados, Mini Cucumbers, Fresh Express Salad Blends, Ken's Salad Dressing
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: Use 8-10 drumsticks (roughly 2-2.5 lbs for 4 people, about 2 drumsticks per person), 2 avocados sliced, 4-5 mini cucumbers sliced, and one bag of salad blend with dressing shared at the table
Recipes:
- Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks – Easy Delicious Oven Recipe
- Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks – Easy & Delicious

Thursday
Meal: Pork and Vidalia Onion Tacos with Mango Salsa and Avocado
Description: Thin sliced boneless chicken breast is swapped here for leftover seasoned pork loin sliced thin and quickly pan-seared with Vidalia onions and Old El Paso taco seasoning, loaded into Mission flour tortillas with fresh mango and avocado for a bright and flavorful taco night. The sweet mango and creamy avocado balance the savory, caramelized pork beautifully.
Sale items used: Boneless Pork Loin Roast or Whole Pork Tenderloin (second purchase or remainder from Monday's roast), Realsweet Organic Vidalia Onions, Hass Avocados or Mangos, Mission Flour Burrito Tortillas, Old El Paso Seasoning Mix
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use approximately 1.25 lbs of pork sliced thin for 4 people, 1 mango diced, 1 avocado sliced, remaining onion from Tuesday halved and sliced, and 2-3 tortillas per person
Recipes:
- Pork Tacos with Mango-Avocado Salsa

Friday
Meal: Chop House Beef and Pork Burgers with Avocado, Tomato, and King's Hawaiian Buns
Description: Chop House Beef and Pork Burger patties are grilled or pan-seared and served on King's Hawaiian Rolls with sliced Taste of Inspirations tomatoes, avocado, mini cucumber slices, and Duke's mayonnaise for a restaurant-quality burger night at home. The rich beef and pork blend makes these burgers exceptionally juicy and flavorful without any extra work.
Sale items used: Chop House Beef and Pork Burger, King's Hawaiian Rolls, Taste of Inspirations Tomatoes, Hass Avocados, Mini Cucumbers, Duke's Mayonnaise
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: One 28 oz package provides 4 generous patties (about 7 oz each), serve each on 1-2 King's Hawaiian Rolls with tomato slices, a quarter avocado, and cucumber slices per person

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Boneless Pork Loin Roast or Whole Pork Tenderloin (2 separate purchases, roughly 1.5 lbs and 1.25 lbs): $2.75
- Chicken Drumsticks (2 lbs from $5/lb bag): $10.00
- Eckrich Smoked Sausage (x2 packages): $8.00
- Chop House Beef and Pork Burger (x1 package, 28 oz): $21.00
- Mini Potatoes (x1 bag, 14 oz): $3.50
- Broccoli Crowns (x1 crown): $2.00
- Realsweet Organic Vidalia Onions (x1 bag, 3 lbs): $3.00
- Food Lion Baby Cut Carrots (x1 bag, 1 lb): $1.00
- Hass Avocados (x4): $4.00
- Mangos (x1): $1.00
- Mini Cucumbers (x1 bag, 24 oz): $4.00
- Taste of Inspirations Tomatoes (x1 pkg): $3.00
- Fresh Express Salad Blends (x1 pkg): $3.50
- King's Hawaiian Rolls (x2 packages, 12 ct each): $10.00
- Mission Flour Burrito Tortillas (x1 package, 20 oz): $3.50
- Ken's Salad Dressing (x1 bottle, 16 oz): $3.00
- Duke's Mayonnaise (x1 bottle): $4.00
- Old El Paso Seasoning Mix (x1 packet): $1.50

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil or vegetable oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika
- Dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- Chili powder or cumin (for taco seasoning blend)